Device for regulating and justifying reproduced sound.



PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

A. FORD.

DEVICE FOR REGULATING AND JUSTIFYING RBPRODUGED SOUND.

To all whom it may concern:

tion.

AZEL FORD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DEVICE FOR REGULA'IING AND JUSTIFYING REPRODUCED SOUND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Application filed September 19, 1904. Serial No. 225,067.

I Be it knownthat I, AZEL FORD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Washington; in the District. of Colun1bia, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Device for Regulating and JustifyingReproduced Sound, of which the following is a specifica- This invention relates to an improvement in devices to be attached to phonographs, graphophones, telephones, and other soundproducln-g apparatus, and has for its object the eliminatlon of harsh, shrill, scraping, or other inharmonious sounds which have been so prolific in apparatus of the aforesaid character hitherto, whereby the confusion and dissonance of vocal and instrumental sound waves, as reproduced hitherto, are prevented, and harmony and consonance attained.

My invention stated in general terms consists of a device interposed in the passage of the produced and reproduced sound waves of such a character that the inharmonious produced sound waves are segregated or destroyed without interference with the reproduced sound waves whereby the reproduced soundwaves are obtained with clearness and accuracy, and consists of a combination of elements and devices as herein-. after clearly set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, of whic 1 Figure 1 is a longitudinal transverse section of the device with tube connections, enlarged, showing porous flexible diaphragms having an intervening layer of granular carbon and separated by an air cushion and provided with means for bringing the diaphragms closer together by means of the screw-couplin Flg. 2 is a like view of the device provi ed with gauze diaphragms. Fig. 3 is an end view of one section of the device and Fig; 4 is a view of adetached annu lar air cushion. Fig. 5 shows a gauze diaphragm.

- In the drawings, A and B represent opposite sections of the device adapted to be connected by a screw-thread or coupling, as shown at C, and by which means they are confined between the sections by washers c, diaphragms b, b, and an intermediate annular air cushion D, which are connected so as to secure the diaphragms a, a atvariable-and adjustable distances apart by the pressure of the screw-threads in coacti0n' with the com ressivc and expansive action of the air cus ion.

In Fig. 1 is represented a granular carbon layer inclosed between the porous diaphragms b, b, retained between the same by the annular air cushion D, the outer ends of the section being provided with a means c,f,

for attaching the same to rubber or other tubes or soin'id-conveying conduits E, F. The section A is provided with an annular extension (1 whereby it projects over the ad jacent end of the opposite section B.

I Fig. 2 is a like view of the device provided with woven Wire or gauze diaphragnis b, l) which are separated from each other by the annular air cushion D.

Fig. 3 is a viewof the inner end of section A of the device.

Fig. 4 is a view of the annular air cushion; and Fig. 5 represents a fOI'itI'HlHOUS diaphragm.

In assembling the device, the washer a is placed within the section A and thereupon is placed a diaphragm of material selective to the character of the instrument to which applied, upon which is placed an annular cushion consisting preferably of a hollow annular ring retaining air under pressure. Upon this. is placed a second diaphragm a and a second ring or washer b, which are maintained in position by coupling to the section B by means of the screw-tlnead C. It will be seen that upon more closely coupling these sections by screwing the same to-- gether the annular cushion is compressed and the diap hragms brought closer together. The object of this is to provide an adjustable means for regulating the distances whereby the diaphragms may be maintained at varying distances from each other, it having been found of great advantage to' so adjust the diaphragms in order to synchronize them in accordance with the dilfering inharinonious sound waves evolved by various soundreproducing devices which inharmonions sound waves are conveyed to and through the conduits E, F, communicating with the sounctregulating and justifying diaphragms c, a.

My improved apparatus consists of two bell-mouth devices, preferably composed of hard' rubber provided with coupling screwthreads whereby they may be joined and provided also with means whereby diaphragms of selective sound wave-analyzing and dissipating properties may be inclosed, and further provided with means whereby the opposite ends of the coupled. device may v be attached to a sound-reproducing appasound-reproducing diaphragm are accompanied by additional interfering inharmo.

nious sound waves generated or produced by the frictional tendencies of the needle in the channel guiding the needle over the aforesaid indentations and projections, which inharmonious sound waves have a tendency to confuse or obscure the harmonious :sound waves desired to be reproduced. It is'my object, therefore, to interpose in the path of the multiple sound waves, reproduced and produced as aforesaid, a diaphragm of such character as to selectively isolate and destroy the inharmonious produced waves by means of an element, capable of synchronously producing sound waves of like inharmonious character whereby" the originally produced inharmonious waves are neutralized at the nodal point-of their sound'wave communication. posingin the passage of the com osite sound waves, vibratory diaphragms of foraminous naturewith sufficiently small apertures to readily take up and destroy the inharmonious sounds, or may consist of various sub-,

stances capable of vibration of any selective character, such as porous flexible diaphr'aglns, retaining pulverized carbon, or other inharmonious sound-deadening substance.

By interposing in the path of the repro duced sound waves a device of this character, I am enabled to analyze or separate therefrom disagreeable'and inharmonious sound waves generated frictionally or otherwise through the imperfect action of the sound wave-reproducing devices thereby delivering the sound in perfect reproduction without the usual accompanying inharmonious sound waves. I

Diaphragms of thin wood, paper, felt,

sponge, and the like may be employed according to the particular character of the sound waves desired to be deadened or separated in the ju'stification of the particular sound desired to be reproduced.

It should be noted that the sections A, B, of my device are conical 'or bell-shaped whereb the sound waves are concentrated upon t e sound-justifying diaphragms and the diaphragms may be graduated in thickness or character of substance and circumcentrieally to conform with the direction upon which particular sound waves are reflected.

'posite diaphragm an This eifect may be produced by inter-- Fig. 2 illustrates diagrammatically the manner in which the sound waves, entering in concentrated or blended form, are analyzed and separated from each other, bythe varying reflective surface of the interidr of the*conical or bell-shaped section B, in parallel and concentric form, with'reference to the varying vibratory tension of each sound wave in the'volume, so that the separate,.

distinct, and individual sound waves, forming a part of the composite blend of the sound wave volume, are circum-centrically reflected from its selective cycle point and delivered upon the sound-justifyin diaphragm in selective concentric circ es, at which point any one or moreof the individual sound waves thusanalyzedimay be absorbed, neutralized, vor dissipated at its point of loca-,

tion, the effect of the justifying diaphragmicfdevice, while the uninterrupted or unobstructed sound waves, which have not been in interference, ass through the comd are delivered concentrically upon the concentrating sound reflective surface of the outlet section A, whereby the remaining orjustified sound waves are reblended in a harm onions volume, ,by syn,-' thesis, and deliveredf'rom-the device minus the inharmonious waves as originally, communicated or conveyed to the a paratus. It

will thus be seen that the v0 ume of com-' positely blended sound-waves are circuin- V centrically separated into distinct andiudividuaLWaves by the conical or bell-shaped sound reflective surface of the'interior of section B, which individual sound waves, thusse arated, are delivered upon the'sound-justigying dia hragms in concentric form.

By empl ical or bell-shaped character the various sound waves. entering the section are separated, analyzed, or reflected circum-centrically upon the diaphragms so that circum centric amplifying or resistant substances of selective action with reference to the particuoying section's interiorly of conlar sound wave delivered upon the diaphragm at a particular point may be employed in connection-with the diaphragms for the purpose of deadening, destroying, orseparating inharmonious sound waves from the sounds desired to be clearly reproduced.

.In cases Where the inharmonious sound waves occur in varying degrees as delivered from the various sound-reproducing ma chines, substances-of selective deadening effeet to the particular inharmonious sound waves and'of' yielding nature, such as soft rubber, may be placed between the diaphragms at selected points and caused to occupy more orlessfie (1 upon the diaphragm by ex ansion and, contraction of the same accor lnglfi as, res'sureis exerted upon or removedfrom t em through the agency of the screw-threaded coupling devices.

1 do not desire to con me myself to the parphragms without departing from the spirit the rece parallel .or across or angular of each other.

- or justified', so long as the diaphrag ns existin the sound waves sound-prod .by adjustably causing the porous or nous diaphragms to approach each other or'the POSItiOII Of see,

ticular character ofscrew-threaded coupling .devices, but reserve the right to use any practical means for joining the sections A, B, and I can also make the 'diaphragms 'inde-- pendent of the screw-threaded coupling device and-provide other means for adjusting or controlling the distance between the diaot my invention.

I also intend to include as a feature of my invention the devices as aforesaid provided with a means for revolving the di'aphragn'ls whereby the osition'of the selective soundinterfering su stances ma T be regulated and brought into action at wi l.

I have found it of advantage to employ two'separate .diaphragmsl one of which is shoWn'in-Fig. 4,1composed of a multiplicity of parallel wires or other equivalent and use them collectively'either dis'posedwith Wires I do not'desire to confine myself to any particular character or porous diaphragm or substance of which composed to beinterposed in the path of the sound waves between the point of production and the point of dis charge, but reserve the right to'employ any or all forms of porous substances which may be selectivelyadapted tothe particular charactor of sound wave desired to be neutralized.

plurality and are of such porous and adjustable character that they may bebrou'ght into co-actionor synchronisin with the inharmonious sound waves accompanying reproduced sounds, which it is desired to eliminate.

It should be notedv that the diaphragms employed in my device are of a different and distinct character from the non-porous, fixed and flexible diaphragins employed in telephone transmitt ers a1id receivers, phonographic recorders, sound reproducers and the have for their object the {producwaves be produced and aredependent upon tionof sound waves. atone side of the diapragm-tjo pr duce a vibration of the diaphragm from which,by various means,

are reproducedby the actuation ofitheoppositeside ofthe' diaphragm,

while thediaphragms employed by me are of may such characteras to allow the air-carrying ucingwaves to pass through the pores or betweenthe interstices thereof in such a manner that harmonious waves are uninterrupted while the inharmonious waves are abstracted and' dissi atedh This, as has beenhereinbefordescri edfllis accom lished l brami or' recede from H the por'es, per forations or meshes of the diaphragms rotathrough them andare so adjusted- Withhref erence to each other that they'ipractically constitute a filtering device for incomplete and disturbing inharmonious or unsynchro chronized waves during their passage there' through.

s 'ecification and claimswith reference to the c aracter of the .diaphragms has particular reference to, and is intended to include, dia- .phragmswhich will allow air-carrying sound waves to pass therethrough, be the passages ores, perforations, meshes or spaces of any liind or character so long as air-carrying synchronizedsound waves of harmonious char- -acterare allowed topass without material interception. Qnetof the important features and adap tations of my invention is its utility when employed in connectionwith telephonic and phonographic receivers adapted to communicate directly with the human ear, so that the sound waves reproduced in the receiver may be regulated and adjusted as to pitch Without'interference with the timbre of the sound-waves reproduced or transmitted. By the application of my device, therelnre, the highness or lowness of pitch .may be either =lowered or raised, without destroyin the timbre, to a deg-rec that the reproduced sound waves will be clearly audible, and thus sound waves be more or .iss'ssensitive' or 7 whether the timbre oi th aivo ce of the person transmitting the sound is of high or low p tch.

For example, the tympanumfof-ones ear received may be so high, sharp or harsh that it will result in the sounds transnnttedtherh to not becoming clearly audible, such high,

tablyadjustedsothat the points through sharp'or harsh tones emanating from the nized waves from the harmonious or syn-- it regulates sharpness. and harshnessor lowtransmitted and -wlth'referenc'e'to the tyne whether the ear of the person receiving the may be so constructed with. relation to the! sound waves received by it from a telephoneor phonograph that the pitch ofthe sound The term porous as employed in this sound receiver or reproducer being due to the dill'ering and irregular forms and thickness of the sound-reproducing diaphragms, such as sheets of mica, the vibration of which is actuated by magnetic action in the telephone and the stylus in the phonograph, regardless of the actual pitch of the sound originally communicated to the souml-reproducing device; the pitch in various telephonic receivers differing from the sound waves originally transmitted by reason of their difference in diameter and thickness, resulting in more or less rapidity of vibration and consequent pitch without regard to the timbre ol'the sound as originally transmitted. It can be. seen, therefore, that my device will regulate the sound-producing vibrations emanating from the receiver or reproducing diaphragm and will provide a means whereby the pitch of the sound emitted from various diaphragms may be justified, regulated or synchronized with each other and with relation to the particular sensitiveness of the tympanum ol' the ear recei 'ng the sound therefrom.

llaving now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A sound receiving and distributing device including a plurality of sound justifying diaphragms containing independent sets of parallel wires, said diaphragms being capable of transmitting sound waves of harmonious character, and of eliminating and subduing inharmonious sound waves.

2. A sound receiving and distributing device including a plurality of sound justifying diaphragms containing parallel wires, said diaphragms being rotatably movable with reference to each other, and capable of transmitting sound waves of harmonious character, and of eliminating and subduing inharmonious sound waves.

3. A sound receiving and distributing device including a plurality of sound justifying diaphragms containing parallel wires, said diaphragms being rotatably movable in the planes in which they lie, and capable of transmitting sound. waves of harmonious character, and of eliminating and subduing inharmonious sound waves.

4. A sound receiving and distributing device including a plurality of sound justifying diaphragn'is containing parallel wires, said diaphragmsbeing rotatably movable in the planes in which they lie, and means for rotating said diaphragms.

5. A sound receiving and distributing device including relatively movable porous justifying diaphragms which are capable oftransmitting sound waves of harmonious character, and of eliminating or subduing inharmonious sound waves, combined with sound deadening substances for inharinonious sound waves disposed between said diaphragms and means for adjustably increas- .vice including sound justifying diaphragms which are capable of transmitting sound waves of harmonious character and of eliminating or subduing inharmonious sounds, combined with a resilient element separating said diaphragms and adjusting means for compressing said resilient element and thus varying the distance between the diaphragms to synchronize the instrument.

8, A sound receiving and distributing device including relatively movable porous sound justifying diaphragn'is which are capable of transmitting sound waves of harmonious character, and of eliminating or subduing inharmonious sound waves, combined witlrsound deadening substances for inharmonious sound waves disposed between said diapbragms.

9. A sound receiving and distributing device including relatively movable porous sound justifying diaphragms which are capable of transmitting sound waves of harmonious character, and of eliminating or subduing inharinonious sound waves, combined with sound deadening substances for inharmonious sound wave disposed between said diaphragms at selected points;

10. A sound receiving and distributing device including sound justifying diaphragms having passages for transmittingv sound waves of harmonious .characr-er therethrough, said diaphragm being capable of eliminating or subduing inharmonious sound waves combined with conical or bell shaped sections between which saiddiaphragms are supported. k

11. In a sound receiving, justifying, and

distributing device, the comoinatio'n -0f an analytical member,. a synthetical member, and an intervening sound-justifying member capable of transmitting sound waves of harmonious character and of eliminating or sub duing inharmonious sound waves.

12. In a sound-receiving, justifying, 'a'nd distributing device, the combination of an analytical member, a syntheticalmember, and an intervenin adjustable sound-justifying member capa le of transmitting sound waves of harmonious character and of eliminating or subduing inh'arm onious sound waves.

13. In a sound-receiving, justifying and distributing device, the combination of an analytical memberhaving a flaringsoundreflective surface, a synthetical member, and

an intervening sound-justifying member capable of transmitting soundwaves of harmonious character. and 0* eliminating or subduing inharmonious sound waves.

' 14. In a sound-receiving, justifymg and distributing device, the combination of an analytical member having a flaring sound reflective surface, a synthetical member, and

an. "intervenin adj ustable' sound-j ustifying member capab e of transmitting sound Waves of harmonious character and of eliminating or subduing in'harmonious sound waves.

15. Inga sound-receiving, justifying and distributing device, the combination of an analytical member, a synthetical member having a contracting sound-reflective surface, and an intervenin sound-justifying -member capable of transmltting sound waves of harmonious character and: of eliminating or subduing inharmonious sound Waves.

16, In a sound-receiving, 'ustifying and distributing device, the corn ination of an analytical member, a synthetical member having a contracting sound-reflective su'rface', van'd an in tervenmg)-adjustable sound justifying-member capa le of transmitting soundwaves of'harmom'ouscharacter and of eliminating or subduing inharmonious sound .waves.

17. In a sound-receiving, justifying and distributingdevice, the combination of an.

analytical member having a fl'ari'ng soundreflective surface, a synthetical member having a contracting sound-reflective surface,

and an intervening sound-justifying member reflective surface a syntnetical'lnem er' hfiV- ing a contracting sound-reflective surface, and an intervenin adjustablesour id-justifying member capa le of transmitting'sound waves ofharmonious character and of elimi; nating or subduin'g inharmonious sound waves.

In testimony whereof I'aflix my signature;

w1tnesses.

in presence of two subscribing EL FORD.

Witnesses:

Geo. C. Timon, C. R.'ADAMS. 

